Spurs and Heels(Divine Creek Ranch 5)(13)

my stitches if I bend right now.”

Off.

Fuck.

The thong was coming off then. He slid it down her long, silky

legs, along with her blue jeans, as she leaned against him and slipped

her feet from them, one at a time. She was inches from his lips and

completely off-limits. He kept his eyes on her feet and her dainty, red

toenails.

Shit, shit, shit.



40

Heather Rainier





Chapter Four



He should have thought this out better. She was standing in front

of him in only her bra, which he was willing to bet was also pink lace

to match her thong.

They were both frozen as if they were having the same “oh shit”

realization. “My…gown is hanging on the hook behind my bathroom

door.”

He stood with his eyes hooded, doing his best to not look at what

he couldn’t have, at least not yet. His cock totally, vehemently

disagreed. Greedy bastard.

He retrieved a silky little wisp of nothing that was the gown she

asked for, along with a fleece robe that hung on the same hook

beneath it. Coverage was a good thing right now.

He wanted to be a gentleman and allow her some privacy, but he

could not get his eyes to cooperate as he returned from the bathroom.

He was not much of a gentleman in those seconds as he took her in.

Her sumptuous form was backlit by the lamp, so he could make

out every inch of her silhouette, from the graceful curve of her spine

to the delectable swell of her ass and then further to her long, shapely

thighs.

Juliana turned partially on the bed as she heard him re-enter the

room, and he could clearly see the generous swell of her breast, her

peaked nipple visible through the sheer, pink lace of her bra. His eyes

drank it all in, down the soft curve of her tummy to the top of her

thighs, where a hint of the cinnamon-hued curls that covered her

mons were barely visible. She turned away, and he saw the dressing



Spurs and Heels

41

on her shoulder blade and her cast as she reached back to shield her

derriere from his view.

With renewed purpose, he strode to her, ready to take the bull by

the horns. He knelt in front of her, looking into her eyes the whole

time, and reached around to the clasp of her bra. After releasing it, he

smiled up into her eyes, hidden in shadow so he couldn’t read them,

and slid the straps from her silky shoulders, refusing to give in to the

temptation to gaze on what he knew were perfect breasts. He held up

the nightgown and helped her slip her arms into it then drew it

carefully over her head and smoothed it into place.

“Thank you, Ash.”

“You’re welcome. Come on, brush your teeth and get yourself

ready for bed. I’ll get you a glass of water. I’ll bet you’re thirsty,

aren’t you?”

“Yes…I am. Thank you,” she murmured as he helped her to the

bathroom.

Ash found her kitchen and came back to the bedroom with a glass

of water. After placing it on her night stand, he pulled her covers back

and waited for her to return from the bathroom.

Helping her remove the robe, Ash did his best not to notice the

tight nipples that peaked the silken fabric of her nightgown, or the fact

that sheer lace slashed across both hips and the torso of the gown.

This is what she sleeps in at night? Damn!

He sat down on the bed with her and handed her the glass of

water. After draining it, she laid back carefully, flinching as she tried

to get comfortable. She wound up turning on her side so that she

faced him, and he helped her prop her wrist up on a pillow. When she

was finally settled, he brushed a fingertip over her cheekbone.

“When was the last time you took a vacation or a day off?”

After a long pause, she replied, “I can’t remember. The store has

sort of become my life.”

“I thought as much. How many hours are you working per week?”

He didn’t want her to feel cornered, but he felt compelled to ask.



42

Heather Rainier

“Long hours, Ash. I work retail management. I’m there when we

open and when we close.”

“How many? Give me an estimate.”

She frowned and sighed. “I’m usually there about eighty hours a

week. I’ve gotten used to it. My friends always know where to find

me, and many of my employees are like family to me.”

He had a feeling she was making the excuse to herself as much as

she was to him. He didn’t speak for fear of coming across as

judgmental. Eighty hours a week explained a lot. Evelyn had

mentioned she was overtired and oversensitive, and now he could see

why.

“Technically, I was off today. And I take off a couple of hours on

Sunday to go to church and have lunch with friends. I still have time

here and there for things like that during the week.”